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Disney Doesn't Know What to Do with Tiana!

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Disney, as a company, has been a bit of a train wreck lately . First, they spat on the legacy of the first animated feature film of all time , and then they did a shot-for-shot remake of a movie everyone had already seen  and expected people to go back to theaters for it. Their latest blunder revolves around the cancelled Tiana series , a highly anticipated show about a beloved character . At the same time the Tiana series was announced, Disney also unveiled plans for a Moana series  that was also cancelled. The Moana series was then converted into a 2024 sequel . Now, Disney wants to do something similar with Tiana, but in live-action. Over the weekend, Disney announced plans  for a live-action movie to be co-written by Colman Domingo and Robert O'Hara, featuring Tiana. The movie is not a live-action remake (thank goodness) and will likely be either a sequel or a prequel focusing on Tiana's goal of running a restaurant. Many fans have complained that, despite being the ...
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Review: Dance of the Nutcracker

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I was excited to receive an ARC of Dance of the Nutcracker  by Ashley Mendoza because I haven't read many adaptations of "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King."  Though this was not an exact  adaptation of the E.T.A. Hoffman story , it stays true to the spirit of the fairy tale and incorporates fun winter and Christmas lore. The book reminded me a little of Once Upon a Time in Wonderland  since it follows a girl and a boy traveling through a magical land to rescue her love. It was a light-hearted and whimsical adventure that ended in a twist that I didn't see coming. Princess Clara lives in a magical fae kingdom and is eager to form a marriage alliance with Prince Nicholas, who plays the dual role of the Nutcracker Prince and St. Nicholas, known to us as Santa Claus. She expresses her disdain for his twin brother, Jack, when she learns that Nicholas has been kidnapped, and she must work with Jack to save him. The duo embarks on a journey together through a winter wonde...
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Review: Descendants - Wicked Wonderland

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The first Descendants  movie  premiered in 2015, with two moderately successful sequels  that proved nobody cares about continuity when it comes to Disney as long as it's fun. The franchise took a five-year-long break from 2019 to 2024 and came back with The Rise of Red , which introduced new characters, a new storyline, and tons of new plot holes. Featuring the daughters of Cinderella and the Queen of Hearts, The Rise of Red  was one of the weakest entries in the franchise, giving Disney ample opportunity to redeem themselves with the latest sequel, Wicked Wonderland . Did they succeed? Surprisingly, yes, at least in my opinion. Though it's a direct sequel to The Rise of Red , Wicked Wonderland  could not be more different in terms of story and production values. Chloe and Red are significantly more fleshed out as protagonists, and Pink, Red's little sister, is a wonderful new addition. The movie has better music, set design, writing, and characters, overshado...
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New Fairytale and Princess Anime for Summer 2026

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The Summer 2026 anime season has begun, and with it comes many new fairytale-inspired shows, some more original than others. The broken engagement trope  is still a big one, as well as the fake villainess trope , which seems to have a new series every season. One thing we don't see as much in modern anime is shows based directly on well-known fairy tales. That's why one of the most anticipated shows of the new season was Goodbye, Lara , an original take on "The Little Mermaid."  There are also two new "Cinderella" inspired shows that offer unexpected twists on the classic tale of the abused maiden. Goodbye, Lara  premiered last week, with its second episode out later today. Although its pilot followed all the major beats of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale about a young mermaid who made a deal with a sea witch to win over a human prince, this show is a far cry from the 1975 anime movie adaptation . Many visual queues set it apart, such as giving Lara...
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I Watched Moana 2026 So You Don't Have To!

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When Dwayne Johnson announced that Disney was working on a live-action "reimagining" of Moana , a lot less was left to the imagination than implied. Following Disney's decade-long remake trend , Moana is the latest victim in a series of soulless cash grabs that add absolutely nothing new to the story, visuals, or even performers, at least when it comes to Maui. Most of the past Disney remakes have at least tried to add something new to the animated classics by introducing new songs or costumes , but Moana   is a literal carbon copy of the 2016 animation, right down to the animated assets for the ocean, animal sidekicks, and goddesses, which have only been slightly enhanced to fit with the new setting. When I talk about anticipated upcoming princess media , I am referring to new stories about princesses, not the same ones we've already seen. This movie is neither anticipated nor new. Barely two years have passed since Disney gave us a brand new story about Moana  that...
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Review: Princess of Curses & Croaks

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I received an ARC of Princess of Curses & Croaks  by Victoria Benty , which is the second book in the Seasons of Magic series. Although I didn't read the other books, I don't feel that I missed anything important. I understood and enjoyed the references to "Cinderella," which from the first book, Princess of Cinders & Secrets . Princess of Curses & Croaks  is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice  and "The Frog Prince." Though magic is a large part of the story as a whole, the book is about 90% Pride and Prejudice  and 10% "The Frog Prince." Lyranore is a castle chambermaid who believes she is meant for bigger and better things. She receives a proposal from her long-time boyfriend that she begrudgingly accepts, but feels he isn't good enough for her. When Prince Thomas rescues her niece from drowning, she slowly grows closer to him and starts taking magic lessons under his tutelage. During the time they spend together, she realizes t...
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Review: Bearly Free

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As someone who's struggled to find wholesome "Goldilocks" retellings in the past, I was not prepared for just how much I would love Bearly Free . If there's anyone who can take a juvenile cautionary tale about breaking and entering and turn it into a sweeping romantic thriller, it's Abigail Manning . This book is the second story in her Emerald Realm series . It takes place in a world that contains magic, but it's not a major part of the story, which makes sense, given the source material. Instead, it's an epic romance with a runaway bride and lots of shocking twists. Lady Aurelia Lockly is a 16-year-old girl whose parents sold her hand in marriage to the highest bidder to help fund their business. Not wanting to be tied down to a stranger who was after her family's money, she runs away and finds herself trapped in an expansive mansion when the owners come home and lock her out of all her potential escape routes. The book builds up suspense as Aurelia...
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Fairytale Summer & Cover Reveal!

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If you've been following my blog for a while, you may have seen me mention Fairytale Summer in some of my previous book reviews over the years. The summer festivities are back again for 2026, and will last for the entire month of July! If you'd like to share reviews for a chance to win bookish prizes or get to know some talented fairy tale authors, make sure you join the True Flame Fairytales Facebook group . The event started on Wednesday. There are already tons of posts filled with friendly interactions between readers and writers. In fact, I already won a prize! I will be receiving a paperback copy of Fairest Hunter  by M.K. Felix  in the mail, and I am eager to share my review when I receive it. Fairytale Summer isn't only about winning prizes. Every evening, a new author will be sharing a fun "takeover" of the group, where she will get to know readers by posting about her books along with games and other fun goodies. I am thrilled to announce that I will be ...
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Review: A Kingdom of Magic and Rain

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I signed up for an ARC of A Kingdom of Magic and Rain  by VI Davis  for the magical princess storyline and the beautiful artwork on the cover. This book is a cozy fantasy romance. It does contain spice, so it's not for everyone. While most princess stories I read are fairy tale retellings, this book follows many of the popular tropes in the YA market without adapting a known story. The closest thing I can compare it to is The Princess Knight  by Cait Jacobs , which was inspired by Legally Blonde . Both stories contain a princess protagonist trying to prove her worth after a breakup and finding love in unexpected places. Princess Emelin is devoted to protecting her kingdom from the powerful fae, whose magic has been draining her kingdom for years. After being scorned by a former lover, she is determined to become a better mage and use her powers to restore the land. She goes to train with Lord Adrian Gray and discovers that he possesses not only the ability to unlock her m...
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Review: Astra Remade

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Astra Remade  by Elizabeth Lowham  was one of my treasures from last weekend's Enchanted Book Faire . Although I was unfamiliar with the author, the premise sounded intriguing. The book did not let me down. It is a redemption arc for Beauty's vain sister from "Beauty and the Beast"  combined with a gender-bent "Rapunzel"  who lives in a magical fae realm . The book is packed with magic, imagination, and originality. It isn't so much a fairy tale retelling as it is an original fairy tale reimagining. With so many streaming series on the way about Cinderella's stepsisters , it's nice to see a story about a lesser-known fairy tale sister, one so obscure that she wasn't even included in the Disney adaptations . Beauty's sister, Astra, is painfully jealous to the point that she is willing to make a dangerous bargain with a fairy. Despite numerous warnings, Astra asks a fairy to make her so beautiful that men will propose to her on sight. When ...
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Upcoming Princess Media & Announcements

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There is a ton of new princess content coming your way this summer, so it seems like a good time for a quick media roundup. Despite what Hollywood might want you to believe , princesses and girly media are still thriving all around the world, and it seems like every country is trying to get in on the action. From France's Lolirock announcements to Italy's Winx Club continuation to Japan's fairy tale-inspired anime premieres, this summer is going to be packed with princesses. Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming princess releases worldwide. Before I get to the summer premieres, the biggest new announcement is that Lolirock , the beloved French Magical Girl idol series, is officially getting a third season . It's been almost ten years since Iris restored her home world of Ephedia, and now she's back for new adventures with her friends, Auriana, Talia, Carissa, and Lyna, to face a vengeful Praxina, who blames them for the death of her brother. Thi...
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Review: Magical Princess

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Princess parenting simulators have been a niche genre even since they were popularized in the early '90s by Princess Maker . It's a unique concept that combines the decision-making format of visual novels  with the stat grinding of classic JRPGs . The player typically takes on the role of a father who is tasked with raising a daughter in a magical world to lead a happy and successful life. The daughter is often gifted with mysterious powers that can be unlocked by making certain choices throughout the game. Successful playthroughs result in her inheriting a throne or saving the fantasy world, and unsuccessful ones result in her becoming a recluse or degenerate. I usually find the stat grinding of these games to be pretty tedious, but the latest release,  Magical Princess , successfully modernizes the format with beautiful visuals and voice acting to make it an overall rewarding experience. With a full Japanese voice cast, beautiful animation and graphics, and secret endin...
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Review: The Tale of Capri

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It goes without saying that most princess fans also love mermaids . So when a new book released this year in honor of MerMay , the annual online mermaid art competition, I was intrigued. The Tale of Capri  by Kathleen Solis  is a cozy contemporary romance between a mermaid and a lifeguard. The eye-catching cover was inspired by a series of artwork that the author created for various MerMay prompts, which are included in the back of the book. It's a quick, clean read with sweet vibes and strong environmental themes about ocean conservation. Good mermaid books  can be hard to find, so this one is definitely worth diving into if beachy vibes are your jam. The Tale of Capri  opens with a scene similar to the one depicted on the cover of the book. A lifeguard named Eden inspects the beach and finds an injured mermaid washed up on the shore with her tail caught in a net. He cuts her free and offers to let her stay in his pool while she recovers from her injuries. She choos...
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The Enchanted Book Faire Is Here!

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In today's technological era , many of the activities that we enjoy outside can also be done at home from our magical towers . Today, we can add the Renaissance Faire  to that list. A large group of indie fairy tale authors got together to form the Enchanted Book Faire , a special online event that lasts all weekend long. This faire is just like a real Renaissance Faire. It has a variety of different pavilions and activities to partake in. The only difference is that you don't need to worry about parking, crowds, or sunburn! The event is similar to some of the National Fairy Tale Day  that many of these authors have participated in before, complete with a hearty prize of discounted ebooks for those who visit every booth. The Enchanted Book Faire is hosted by Alesha Adamson  and has 15 participating authors, each of whom provides a letter to unlock the secret code needed to access the sale at the end. The authors' booths have some wonderfully whimsical names, such as "D...
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Snow White and Me Has the Best Fairy Tale Musical Soundtrack You've Never Heard!

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In 2023, two "Cinderella" inspired musicals  made their way to Broadway and promptly closed within less than a year. On the other side of the world, a different fairy tale-inspired musical was enchanting audiences across Europe. Snow White & Me  is a portal fantasy like Between the Lines  with self-aware fairy tale characters who want to change their pre-written destinies, similar to Ever After High and Once Upon a Time . The story shares elements with the Britney Spears jukebox musical, Once Upon a One More Time , but its original soundtrack is vastly superior, as are the costumes and plot, which thankfully doesn't have a forced feminist agenda . According to the show's official website, it was commissioned in 2018 for European productions and seeks to find its way to the American stage in the future. As of last month, the English soundtrack for Snow White & Me became widely available online and can be listened to for free on YouTube . Like  with all good mu...
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Review: Ties of Legacy

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Ties of Legacy  by Melanie Cellier  is the fifth book I read  from the Tethered Hearts multi-author series. It serves as an introduction to Melanie's  Kingdoms of Legacy series, in which the characters live in a world governed by a complex system of rules that binds them to their kingdoms and forces them to relive classic stories for generations. Although this book is not based on a fairy tale, it serves as a loose retelling of "Aladdin," or more specifically, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland , because it focuses on a man who is bound to a lamp that is possessed by a woman he must travel with and develops feelings for. The book's pacing occasionally lags, but it culminates in a thrilling climax. Avery is a traveling merchant who lives in a world that prevents many people from leaving their homes and values her freedom. Elliot wishes he could settle down, but the magical laws that govern their world bound him to always be near a specific candelabra. When his precious ...
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